For those of you counting, numbers play a big part of the Skechers Performance LA Marathon, from it being the 34th annual run, to the guesstimate number of hours runners prepare for the event, to the actual length of 26.219 miles (42.195 kilometers), to the final result times in Santa Monica.

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Thousands of runners take part in the Los Angeles Marathon 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

For those of you counting, numbers play a big part of the Skechers Performance LA Marathon, from it being the 34th annual run, to the guesstimate number of hours runners prepare for the event, to the actual length of 26.219 miles (42.195 kilometers), to the final result times in Santa Monica.

2019 LA Marathon facts

The race on March 24, 2019, starts at Dodger Stadium and ends in Santa Monica.

There are more than 24,000 participants from all 50 states and 67 countries.

Runners must be 16 years old by race day to enter.

There are 137 Legacy runners, those who have run in every LA Marathon since 1986, who are eligible to run.

There are four start times for athletes: Wheelchair participants at 6:30 a.m.; handcyclers at 6:42 a.m., elite women runners at 6:45 a.m.; and elite men and the full field at 6:55 a.m.

The 13.1-mile marker, which is the halfway point in the race, will have the runners pounding the pavement on Sunset Boulevard just east of Laurel Avenue — in front of the Laugh Factory comedy club and just before entering the City of West Hollywood.

Participants must complete the course in 6.5 hours in order to receive an official time.

The 2020 LA Marathon will be held on March 8.

Historical facts

The LA Marathon was inspired by the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, which were also known as the XXIII Olympiad, if you prefer Roman numerals.

The inaugural LA Marathon run on March 9, 1986, began with 10,787 registered runners and ended with 7,581 official finishers.

Chip timing was available in 1996.

Personalized bib numbers were offered in 2002

The largest field of registered runners, 26,054, happened in 2010. Official finishers: 22,361.

There have been 696,948 official finishers as of 2018.

There were 178 Legacy runners — those who have completed every LA Marathon race — as of 2018, 41 more than in 2019.

Runners enrolled in Students Run L.A. number more than 33,000 as of 2018, and 90 percent of them completed the race.

Wilson Kirui, from Kenya, was the 2018 men’s winner with his run of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 47 seconds.

Sule Gedo, from Ethiopia, was the 2018 women’s winner with her run of 2 hours, 33 minutes and 52 seconds.

Lidiya Grigoryeva, from Russia, holds the race record for women at 2 hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds.

Markos Geneti, from Ethiopia, holds the race record for men at 2 hours, 6 minutes and 35 seconds.

Volunteers/charity

There are more than 6,000 people volunteering their time.

There are 70 charity partners, and $4 million is expected to be raised this year.

In 2018, $3.3 million was raised by 65 charity partners.

More than $50 million has been donated to charity partners since 1986.

Holly Andres is a news editorial assistant and calendar editor for the Los Angeles Daily News. After traveling down a wrong path or two, she found her work destiny when she was hired in 1997. She enjoys putting together calendar listings because she believes that events bring people together for memorable shared experiences and exchange of ideas. Her calendars include arts and entertainment, charity/volunteer, community meetings, general events, garden and religion. She also puts together specialty calendars for events like Fourth of July fireworks. Holly is a night owl who likes to eat breakfast for dinner, reads mystery novels, loves cloudy/rainy days and solves crossword puzzles. Her favorite movies include Enchanted April and Green Card. She has breathed the air of the San Fernando Valley since she was, like, 2-years-old.